Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

colportage

noun

/ˈkɒl.pɔː.tɪdʒ/

Definition

The act of selling books, especially religious or educational texts, directly to the public, often through itinerant vendors.

Examples

The missionaries depended on colportage to share their religious messages.
Through colportage, he was able to distribute thousands of important texts across rural communities.
She took up colportage to support her belief in the importance of education and literacy.

Meaning

Colportage refers to the practice of distributing literature, typically done by traveling salespeople who promote and sell books to individuals, often with a focus on spreading religious or moral teachings.